(19)

(11)

EP 1 659 932 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 12.05.2005 (43) Date of publication: 31.05.2006 Bulletin 2006/22 (21) Application number: 04780084.2 (22) Date of filing: 06.08.2004

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61B 5/00(1968.09) (86) International application number: PCT/US2004/025185 (87) International publication number: WO 2005/016121 (24.02.2005 Gazette 2005/08)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR (30) Priority: 08.08.2003 US 493354 P (71) Applicant: VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY Richmond, VA 23219 (US)	(72) Inventors: LENHARDT, Martin, L. Hayes, VA 23072 (US) WARD, Kevin Glen Allen, VA 23059 (US) (74) Representative: Lins, Edgar et al Gramm, Lins & Partner GbR, Theodor-Heuss-Strasse 1 38122 Braunschweig 38122 Braunschweig (DE)